Improvement in corn-planters



2 Sheets--Sheet 1. L. H. CONVERSE.

Improvement in Corn-Planters.

No.129,320. Patentedlulymnsn.

Ofjwu, i @Mj 2Shees--Shee2. L. H. CONVERSE.

Improvement in Corn-Plant'ers. No. 129,320. Patentedlulymnsz..

2f EN UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

LEWIS II. CONVERSE, on SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORNPLANTERS.

i Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,320, dated July 16, 1872i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS H. CONVERSE, of Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and in the. btate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a plan view of the upper side of my device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with-the nearest wheel removed'. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of'one of the seedboxes with its dropping mechanism. Fig. 4 is a central section of the same on the line x x of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the cut-O on the line w w of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of on'e side of the coupling used for connecting the sections of the frame. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper side of the same. Fig. 8 is a vertical section ofthe drivers seat on the line z z of Fig. l; and Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the same on the line z z' of Fig. l.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the gures.

- My invention is an improvement in cornplanters designed for use with horse or other power; and it consists, principally, in the peculiar construction of the cut-oft', substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified 5 it consists, further` in the couplingused for connecting the dropper and wheel-frames, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown 5 it consists, further, in the peculiar construction and attachment of the drivers seat, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth; it consists, further, in the means employed for enabling the driver to increase the depth of the runners within the ground, Substantially as is hereinafter shown and described; it consists, further, in the construction of the dropper-frame, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified; it consists, nally, in the means employed for raising the runners clear from the ground, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. v v

In the annexed drawing, A and A represent two bars or hounds, connected together at one end by means of a short cross-bar, B, and from thence extending outward and apart, as shown in Fig. l, with their outer ends attached to and connected together by means of a second cross-bar, G. A third bar, D, extends across, and is secured upon the hounds A slightly iu rear of their longitudinal center, while from the longitudinal center of said bar D extends forward the pole E, which is connected to or with the front cross-bar C by means of a kingbolt, F. Two metal brace-rods, G, secured to or upon thelower end of the kin g-bolt, and from thence extending rearward and apart, with their rear ends attached to the cross-bar D,

serve to strength said parts and to insure their' f relative positions. Resting upon and secured to the bar D, near its ends, are two hoppers, H, to the lower side of each of which is attached a seed-spout or chute, I, having con-Y nected to its lower end a runner, K, which from thence extends forward and upward inl a curve and has its forward end attached to"v the cross-bar C, said parts being of usual construction and combination. Within the hop-V pers H are provided two droppers,-L, which, with their slides M, being fully described in Letters Patent N o. 119,325, of September 26, 1871, require no further mention. .Above each dropper is placed a covering-plate, which con-- sists of a central disk, N, connected by meansof three arched bridges, O, with an outer rect-v angular plate, N, between which plates' is left an annular spacegz, that corresponds inA position with the openings Z of the dropper, and has a width somewhat greater than the diameter of said openings. The bridges O are placed at equidistant points around and across the space n, while that bridge O which comes immediately above the discharge-opening h.,

through which grain passes into the chute I, is provided with a hollow cylindrical boss, open at its lower end and inclosed at its upper end. Resting upon the dropper L, immediately beneath the boss O', is a cut-off, P, having a width and shape that corresponds to the like features'of the annular space n, which .cut-oli' has one of its ends pivoted to or upon the covering-plates N and N', by means of a short cross-bar, p, that passes through lthe eudor said cut-off and rests within suitable bearings formed within the upper .sides of said cover-f ing-plates. As seen in Fig. 5, the forward orfree end of the cut-o P curves vslightly downward, and is rounded where it rests upon the dropper, so as to offer no obstacle to the free movement of the same, and also to prevent the packing or wedging of corn within the openings, as would be the case were the bearing end of said cut-oli'square. A stud, p', extending vertically upward from the cut-ott' into the hollow boss O',receives andsustainsaspiral spring, Q, which spring, pressing against the upper or closed end of said boss and against the upper side of said cut-off, holds the latter with suiiicient firmness upon or against the dropper. .A bolt, q, passing loosely through the cut-off stud and the closed end of the boss, prevents the separation of said parts when the covering-plate is removed from the hopper, without interfering with their free movements when in place. As thus constructed and arranged the bridges O perform the double oiiice ot' filling the seed-openings within the dropper and of partially cutting oft' the supply of seed to the saine, and also prevent the contents of the hopper from being carried bodily in the direction ofthe rotation of the dropper; while the cut-oli' not only performs its oiice by removing all superiiuous grain from the openings, but in the event of the wedging of said grain, so as to offer more than usual Vresistance to said cut-ofi', the rounded forward end of the latter will rise so as to permit the dropper to pass beneath, when said grain will usually be discharged. If, however, the grain does not fall from the dropper, the rear end of the cutoff will rise sufficiently to permit of its passage, after which said end will return to position and be ready for operation as before. The inner ends of the slides M are connected, and they are unitedly operated by means of a lever, R, which extends vertically downward through the` dropper seat S, and has its lower end connected loosely to or with said slides. Immediately in rear of the dropper-frame above described is a second frame, consisting of two longitudinal bars, T, connected at their rear ends by means of a cross-bar, U, and at their longitudinal centers by means of an axle, V, upon the outer ends of which are journaled two traction or ground wheels, V. The frame thus constructed is connected to or with the .dropper-frame by means of the following-described coupling: Secured to or upon the forward end of each bar T, by means of a bolt, X, is a clevis, Y, of the form shown in Fig. 6, within the bent end of which, and upon the immediate end of said bar, is placed a piece of cast metal, Z, that corresponds therewith in size and shape, and is provided with two studs, Z', which extend rearward into corresponding openings within said bars. From its screw-thread and nut, while upon the rear end of said bolt is formed a circular eye, B'. Immediately beneath the eye B' is placed a rectangular block of metal, C', having upon or within its outer face a socket, which receives and contains the inner half of said eye, and an opening through which the bolt passes, while upon the rear side of said block are two studs, c', which project horizontally forward, and are contained within corresponding openings formed within the bar D. As thus constructed the clevis and eye are combined in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and form a iirlnbut flexible coupling for the frames, in which all wear is thrown upon metal surfaces, and the different parts are so braced as to afford great strength. Extending upward and rearward from the axle V, near its longitudinal center, are two standards, D', which are placed at a short distance apart, and have theirupper l ends connected together by `means of a block, through which and through said ends passes a bolt, d'. Two braces, E', have their upper ends attached to`or upon the cross-bar U at its points ot' intersection with the bars T. The lower ends of the standards D' are each stengthened and more firmly united to the axle by means of a metal brace, F' which einbraces the sides and front of standards, and from thence extends downward along the front of said axle. Extending forward from the inner side of each brace, F', is a lug, f', within the upper side of which is formed a socket or bearing that receives and contains a round metal bar, g', upon which bar is pivoted a lever, G', that extends from immediately over the cross-bar B rearward, between the standards D', and is provided at or near its rear end with a cross-bar, H'. The front end of the lever G' being loosely connected with the crossbar B by means of a chain, l', it will be seen that a downward pressure applied to the cross-bar H' will, through the lever G', raise said crossbar B, and with it the rear end of the dropperframe. A chain, K', attached to the lower side and center of the cross-bar B, and from thence extending to or over a pin upon the center of the axleV, furnishes a means whereby the downward movement of the rear end of the dropper-fraine may be limited, it being only necessary that said chain should be lengthened or shortened in order to increase or diminish the amount of relative motion that is possible be-` tween said parts. Two standards, L', secured to and extending vertically upward from the ends of the cross-bar B, are provided upon their upper ends with a metal plate, l', upon which the feet of the driver may be placed whenever it is required, that his weight may be thrown upon the rear end of the dropper frame, for the purpose of forcing the runners into the ground when passing through uneven or hard soil.

Resting upon and secured to the upper ends of the standards D' is a block, M', having a rectangular shape in plan view, upon or within the upper side of which is provided a doveQ l n). -kn

tailshaped groove, m', which extends from front to rear or in a line'with the draft. Within the dovetail groove m' and upon the upper side of the block M' is fitted a second block, N", to the upper side of which is in turn secured a seat, P', for the driver, the whole thus arranged permitting said seat and its blocks to be moved to and fro within and upon the block M', so as to vary the position of the drivers weight with relation to the axle. A screw, Q' passing upward through a slot, m", in the block M', and having its end secured within the lower side of the sliding block N", limits the motion of the latter, and prevents the same and thel seat from being accidentally displaced. In order that the ground-wheels may'be kept free from obstructions while traveling over wet ground the following-described means are employed. A bar, It', is pivoted to or upon the upper side of each frame-bar, T, at a point about in a line with the rear side of the wheel and extending outward, is twisted so as to bring its fiat side against the periphery of said wheel, the lower edge of said bar being sharpened so as to produce a cuttingedge. A second bar, S', is pivoted upon the outer side of the bar T immediately in rear of the axle, and is connected with the bar R' by means of a rod, T', which is attached to each bar at a point just outside of their pivotal bearings. A foot-plate, U', attached to the upper end of the bar S', completes the device, the operation of which will be readily understood, it being only necessary to throw forward the lever S' to bring the cutting-edge of the cleaner-bark in contact with the wheel, by which means, as said wheel revolves in a forward direction, the `dirt adhering to its periphery will be quickly removed. l

The especial advantages ofthis construction of a "corn-planter are: First, the cut-ofi' is efficient and certain in its operation, while at the same time so shaped and combined with the coverin g-plate as to enable it to yield and allow the passage of corn which has become so wedged within the openings of the dropper as to otherwise arrest the motion of the latter. Second, the coupling employed for connecting the dropper and wheel frames affords perfect freedom of action to said parts, is durable, as the bearin g portions are composed entirely of metal, and at the same time is comparatively inexpensive and can be quickly and easily applied. Third, by means of the peculiar construction and attach ment of the seat the driver is enabled to shift his position at will toward or from the axle, and thus change correspondingly the draft of the machine by a change in the relative position of his weight and the axial bearin g ofthe frame. Fourth, the means employed for raising the rear end of the dropper-frame and for pressing the samel within' the ground enable the driver to completely and readily control his machine when operating in ground having an uneven surface, or

having hard and soft spots. Fifth, by means of the peculiar construction of the dropperframe a maximum of strength is secured by means of a minimum of material, while the weight is comparatively little. Sixth, the means employed for regulating the depth of the runners within the soil are simple, cheap, and can be easily and quickly changed so as to vary the position of said runners.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and l merits of my invention7 what I claim as new l. In combination with the sections N and-v A', the eye B', and the bearing-block C', when f said parts are constructed substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The seat P', resting upon and secured to the block N", provided with a dovetailed tennon, fn", in combination with the supportingblock M' provided with the dovetailed groove m', substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. In combination with the hounds A and cross-bar B, the standards L' provided with the foot-plates l', when the several parts are relatively arranged, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The dropper-frame, composed of the i hounds A, the cross-bars B, G, and D, and the braces G, when the severa-l parts are combined and relatively arranged, substantially asl and for the purpose specified.

7. The means employed for connecting together the axle V and standards D', and for furnishing a bearing for the lever G', consisting of the braces F' provided with the lugs j', substantially as specified..

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set 'my hand this 8th day of Y January, 1872.

- LEWIS, H. CONVERSE.

Witnesses JOHN O. SLoAN, E. S. GooDALE. 

